Hybrid fiber twisted pair local loop network service architecture

ABSTRACT

A new architecture capable of utilizing the existing twisted pair interface between customer premises equipment and an associated serving local switching office is used to provide a vast array of new services to customers. Using an intelligent services director (ISD) at the customer services equipment as an interface for the equipment to an existing twisted cable pair and a facilities management platform (FMP) at the serving local switching office as an interface to various networks and service opportunities, new services such as simultaneous, multiple calls (voice analog or digital), facsimile, Internet traffic and other data can be transmitted and received over the twisted cable pair by using digital subscriber loop transmission schemes. The new services include but are not limited to videophone, utility meter reading and monitoring, broadcasting and multicasting. The architecture provides for fault-tolerant, transparent interaction of components and services and supports a variety of standards for each level of the open systems interconnection layers and layers of TCP/IP. The FMP connects electronically or optically to the public switched telephone network, Internet backbone, a private Intranet as well as other possible network connections.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/068,605,filed on Feb. 28, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,466,695 and entitled “HybridFiber Twisted Pair Local Loop Network Service Architecture,” which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/005,153, filed Dec.7, 2001, which issued on Apr. 26, 2005 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,885,662, whichis a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/001,360, filedDec. 31, 1997, and entitled “Hybrid Fiber Twisted Pair Local LoopNetwork Service Architecture,” which issued on Mar. 19, 2002 as U.S.Pat. No. 6,359,881. This application is related to application Ser. No.12/228,341, filed on Aug. 12, 2008,

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention discloses an architecture for supporting increasedbandwidth to customer premises equipment allowing for increased servicesincluding videophone, analog and digital voice traffic, facsimile, voicemail, Internet traffic, and automated home services relating to meterreading, security, and energy management.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As deregulation of the telephone industry continues and as companiesprepare to enter the local telephone access, market, there is a need tooffer new and innovative services that distinguish common carriers fromtheir competitors. This cannot be accomplished without introducing newlocal access network architectures that will be able to support thesenew and innovative services.

Conventionally, customer premises telephone and/or data connectionscontain splitters for separating analog voice calls from other dataservices such as Ethernet transported over digital subscriber line (DSL)modems. Voice band data and voice signals are sent through acommunications switch in a central or local office to an interexchangecarrier or Internet service provider. DSL data is sent through a digitalsubscriber loop asynchronous mode (DSLAM) switch which may include arouter. The DSLAM switch connects many lines and routes the digital datato a telephone company's digital broadband switch.

A major problem with this configuration is that as the interexchangecarriers attempt to penetrate the local telephone company's territory,they must lease trunk lines from the local telephone company switch tothe interexchange company's network for digital traffic. Furthermore,the Internet service provider must lease a modem from the local phonecompany in the DSLAM switch and route its data through the local phonecompany's digital broadband switch. Thus, the local phone company leasesand/or provides a significant amount of equipment, driving up the costof entry for any other company trying to provide local telephoneservices and making it difficult for the interexchange companies todifferentiate their services. Furthermore, since DSL modem technology isnot standardized, in order to ensure compatibility, the DSL modemprovided by the local telephone company must also be provided to the enduser in the customer premises equipment (CPE). Additionally, since thenetwork is not completely controlled by the interexchange companies, itis difficult for the interexchange companies to provide data atcommitted delivery rates. Any performance improvements implemented bythe interexchange companies may not be realized by their customers,because the capabilities of the local telephone company equipment may ormay not meet their performance needs. Thus, it is difficult for theinterexchange companies to convince potential customers to switch totheir equipment or to use their services. These factors ensure thecontinued market presence of the local telephone company.

As part of this system, there is a need for improved architectures,services and equipment utilized to distinguish the interexchangecompanies' products and services. The existing copper twisted pairinfrastructure limits the number of users on the twisted pair and thebandwidth transmitted. A method for expanding the number of simultaneoususers and the bandwidth without replacing the existing twisted pairinfrastructure is desired. In increasing the bandwidth and the number ofsimultaneous services transmitted over a single twisted pair will allowservice providers an opportunity to expand and enhance services intoconsumers' homes and business operations while minimizing theincremental costs associated with initiating enhanced, new services.

In the process of providing enhanced, new services, it is desired forthe service provider to offer fault tolerant, transparent interfaces forthe user. Because of the need to keep costs minimized, flexibility forusing existing hardware and software systems is important. Therefore, itis also desired that the fault tolerant services offered be flexible tointerface across multiple lines of hardware and various versions ofsoftware.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to provide an improved network, it is desirable for theinterexchange companies to have access to at least one of thetwisted-pair lines or alternate wireless facility connecting each of theindividual users to the local telephone network before the lines arerouted through the conventional local telephone network equipment. It ispreferable to have access to these lines prior to the splitter and modemtechnology offered by the local service providers. By having access tothe twisted-pair wires entering the customer's premises, interexchangecompanies can differentiate their services by providing higherbandwidth, improving the capabilities of the customer premisesequipment, and lowering overall system costs to the customer byproviding competitive service alternatives.

The new architecture may utilize a video phone and/or other devices toprovide new services to an end user; an intelligent services director(ISD) disposed near the customer's premises for multiplexing andcoordinating many digital services onto a single twisted-pair line; afacilities management platform (FMP) disposed in the local telephonenetwork's central office or DLC vault for routing data to an appropriateinterexchange company network; and a network server platform (NSP)coupled to the FMP for providing new and innovative services to thecustomer and for distinguishing services provided by the interexchangecompanies from those services provided by the local telephone network.

The overall architecture of the system includes a hybrid opticalfiber/twisted pair infrastructure functionally coupling the customerpremises equipment to the facilities management platform by twisted pairoperating xDSL technology. The utilization of xDSL technology increasesthe bandwidth to the customer premises equipment and allows for theoffering of simultaneous services along the same twisted pair.

The facilities management platform is functionally coupled to acommunication network and is supported by a network server platform.Typically, the facilities management platform is located at the localoffice, while the network server platform is located in a separatelocation due to space limitations, regulator considerations and/or costsat the local office. The architecture provides variable bandwidthchannels, depending on the service requested by the subscriber, and maybe dynamically adapted for providing requested services in bothdirections of transmission. Voice and data are intelligently multiplexedin order to maximize the available bandwidth of the twisted pair.

The facilities management platform supports both fiber and wireconnections into the local telephone company's communication network,cable television network, Internet service provider's network or into awireless communication's network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary of the invention, as well as the followingdetailed description of preferred embodiments, is better understood whenread in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are includedby way of example, and not by way of limitation with regard to theclaimed invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a hybrid fiber twisted pair localloop architecture.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an intelligent servicesdirector consistent with the architecture shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an embodiment of a video phone consistentwith the architecture shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a block diagram of an embodiment of a facilities managementplatform consistent with the architecture shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4B illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a network serverplatform consistent with the architecture shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of the FDDI interface located withinthe NSP.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of the FDDI interface located withinthe NSP.

FIG. 7 illustrates the protocol hierarchy of the software layerarchitecture.

FIG. 8 illustrates the protocol hierarchy of the application serverplatform software architecture.

FIG. 9 illustrates the protocol hierarchy of the OAM&P server platformsoftware architecture.

FIG. 10 illustrates the overall architecture and layout of the equipmentto implement the new services.

FIG. 11 illustrates the protocol hierarchy between the ISD and the FMP.

FIG. 12 illustrates the protocol hierarchy between the FMP and thenetwork.

FIG. 13 illustrates the data protocol hierarchy between the FMP and thenetwork.

FIG. 14 illustrates the protocol hierarchy for voice services (option 1)employing end-to-end ATM.

FIG. 15 illustrates the protocol hierarchy for voice services (option 2)employing the TR-303 interface.

FIG. 16 illustrates the protocol hierarchy for data services employingpoint-to-point over ATM.

FIG. 17 illustrates the protocol hierarchy for data services using ATMsignaling.

FIG. 18 illustrates the virtual private data network “Extranet.”

FIG. 19 illustrates the private data network “Extranet.”

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following applications are hereby incorporated by reference:

-   1. A Hybrid Fiber Twisted-pair Local Loop Network Service    Architecture, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/001,360, filed Dec. 31,    1997;-   2. Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation for use in the Hybrid Fiber    Twisted-pair Local Loop Network Service Architecture, U.S.    application Ser. No. 09/001,425, filed Dec. 31, 1997, and issued as    U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,839 on Oct. 23, 2001;-   3. The VideoPhone, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/001,905, filed Dec.    31, 1997;-   4. VideoPhone Privacy Activator, U.S. application Ser. No.    09/001,909, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   5. VideoPhone Form Factor, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/001,583,    filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   6. VideoPhone Centrally Controlled User Interface With User    Selectable Options, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/001,576, filed Dec.    31, 1997;-   7. VideoPhone User Interface Having Multiple Menu Hierarchies, U.S.    application Ser. No. 09/001,908, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   8. VideoPhone Blocker, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/001,353, filed    Dec. 31, 1997, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,949,474 on Sep. 7,    1999;-   9. VideoPhone Inter-com For Extension Phones, U.S. application Ser.    No. 09/001,358, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   10. Advertising Screen Saver, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/001,574,    filed Dec. 31, 1997, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,583 on Jul.    4, 2000;-   11. VideoPhone FlexiView Advertising Information Display for a    Visual Communication Device, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/001,906,    filed Dec. 31, 1997, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,222,520 on Apr.    24, 2001;-   12. VideoPhone Multimedia Announcement Answering Machine, U.S.    application Ser. No. 09/001,911, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   13. VideoPhone Multimedia Announcement Message Toolkit, U.S.    application Ser. No. 09/001,345, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   14. VideoPhone Multimedia Video Message Reception, U.S. application    Ser. No. 09/001,362, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   15. VideoPhone Multimedia Interactive Corporate Menu Answering    Machine Announcement, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/001,574, filed    Dec. 31, 1997, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,583 on Jul. 4,    2000;-   16. VideoPhone Multimedia Interactive On-Hold Information Menus,    U.S. application Ser. No. 09/001,356, filed Dec. 31, 1997, and    issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,916 on Feb. 1, 2000;-   17. VideoPhone Advertisement When Calling Video Non-enabled    VideoPhone Users, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/001,361, filed Dec.    31, 1997;-   18. Motion Detection Advertising, U.S. application Ser. No.    09/001,355, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   19. Interactive Commercials, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/001,578,    filed Dec. 31, 1997, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,178,446 on Jan.    23, 2001;-   20. Video communication device providing in-home catalog services,    U.S. application Ser. No. 09/001,421, filed Dec. 31, 1997, and    issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,473 on Oct. 19, 1999;-   21. A Facilities Management Platform For Hybrid Fiber Twisted-pair    Local Loop Network, Service Architecture, U.S. application Ser. No.    09/001,422, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   22. Life Line Support for Multiple Service Access on Single    Twisted-pair, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/001,343, filed Dec. 31,    1997;-   23. A Network Server Platform (NSP) For a Hybrid Fiber Twisted-pair    (HFTP) Local Loop Network Service Architecture, U.S. application    Ser. No. 09/001,582, filed Dec. 31, 1997, and issued as U.S. Pat.    No. 6,229,810 on May 8, 2001;-   24. A Communication Server Apparatus For Interactive Commercial    Service, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/001,344, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   25. NSP Multicast, PPV Server NSP Based Multicast Digital Program    Delivery Services, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/001,580, filed Dec.    31, 1997;-   26. NSP Internet, JAVA Server and VideoPhone Application Server,    U.S. application Ser. No. 09/001,354, filed Dec. 31, 1997, and    issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,044,403 on Mar. 28, 2000;-   27. NSP WAN Interconnectivity Services for Corporate Telecommuters    Telecommuting, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/001,540, filed Dec. 31,    1997;-   28. NSP Telephone Directory White-Yellow Page Services, U.S.    application Ser. No. 09/001,426, filed Dec. 31, 1997, and issued as    U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,439 on Apr. 18, 2000;-   29. NSP Integrated Billing System For NSP services and Telephone    services, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/001,359, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   30. Network Server Platform/Facility Management Platform Caching    Server, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/001,419, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   31. An Integrated Services Director (ISD) Overall Architecture, U.S.    application Ser. No. 09/001,417, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   32. ISD/VideoPhone (Customer Premises) Local House Network, U.S.    application Ser. No. 09/001,418, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   33. ISD Wireless Network, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/001,363,    filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   34. ISD Controlled Set-Top Box, U.S. application Ser. No.    09/001,424, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   35. Integrated Remote Control and Phone, U.S. application Ser. No.    09/001,423, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   36. Integrated Remote Control and Phone User Interface, U.S.    application Ser. No. 09/001,420, filed Dec. 31, 1997, and issued as    U.S. Pat. No. 6,292,210 on Sep. 18, 2001;-   37. Integrated Remote Control and Phone Form Factor, U.S.    application Ser. No. 09/001,910, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   38. VideoPhone Mail Machine, U.S. Provisional application Ser. No.    60/070,104, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   39. Restaurant Ordering Via VideoPhone, U.S. Provisional application    Ser. No. 60/070,121, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   40. Ticket Ordering Via VideoPhone, U.S. application Ser. No.    09/218,171, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   41. Multi-Channel Parallel/Serial Concatenated Convolutional Codes    And Trellis Coded Modulation Encode/Decoder, U.S. application Ser.    No. 09/001,342, filed Dec. 31, 1997, and issued as U.S. Pat. No.    6,088,387 on Jul. 11, 2000;-   42. Spread Spectrum Bit Allocation Algorithm, U.S. application Ser.    No. 09/001,842, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   43. Digital Channelizer With Arbitrary Output Frequency, U.S.    application Ser. No. 09/001,581, filed Dec. 31, 1997;-   44. Method And Apparatus For Allocating Data Via Discrete Multiple    Tones, U.S. application Ser. No. 08/997,167, filed Dec. 23, 1997 and    issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,274 on Oct. 17, 2000;-   45. Method And Apparatus For Reducing Near-End Cross Talk In    Discrete Multi-Tone Modulators/Demodulators, U.S. application Ser.    No. 08/997,176, filed Dec. 31, 1997, and issued as U.S. Pat. No.    6,144,695 on Nov. 7, 2000;

The present application is listed as #1.

Referring to FIG. 1, a first exemplary communication networkarchitecture employing a hybrid fiber, twisted-pair (HFTP) local loop 1architecture is shown. An intelligent services director (ISD) 22 may becoupled to a central office 34 via a twisted-pair wire, hybrid fiberinterconnection, wireless and/or other customer connection 30, aconnector block 26, and/or a main distribution frame (MDF) 28. The ISD22 and the central or local office 34 may communicate with each otherusing, for example, framed, time division, frequency-division,synchronous, asynchronous and/or spread spectrum formats, but inexemplary embodiments uses DSL modem technology. The central office 34preferably includes a facilities management platform (FMP) 32 forprocessing data exchanged across the customer connection 30. The FMP 32may be configured to separate the plain old telephone service (POTS)from the remainder of the data on the customer connection 30 using, forexample, a tethered virtual radio channel (TVRC) modem (shown in FIG.4A). The remaining data may be output to a high speed backbone network(e.g., a fiber optic network) such as an asynchronous transfer mode(ATM) switching network. The analog POTS data may be output directly toa public switch telephone network (PSTN) 46, and/or it may be digitized,routed through the high speed backbone network, and then output to thePSTN 46.

The FMP 32 may process data and/or analog/digitized voice betweencustomer premise equipment (CPE) 10 and any number of networks. Forexample, the FMP 32 may be interconnected with a synchronous opticalnetwork (SONET) 42 for interconnection to any number of additionalnetworks such as an InterSpan backbone 48, the PSTN 46, a public switchswitching network (e.g. call setup SS7-type network 44), and/or anetwork server platform (NSP) 36. Alternatively, the FMP 32 may bedirectly connected to any of these networks. One or more FMPs 32 may beconnected directly to the high speed backbone network (e.g., directfiber connection with the SONET network 42) or they may be linked via atrunk line (e.g., trunks 40 or 42) to one or more additional networks.

The NSP 36 may provide a massive cache storage for various informationthat may be provided across the SONET net 42 to the FMP 32 and out tothe ISD 22. The NSP 36 and the FMP 32 may collectively define an accessnetwork server complex 38. The NSP 36 may be interconnected withmultiple FMPs 32. Furthermore, each FMP 32 may interconnect with one ormore ISDs 22. The NSP 36 may be located anywhere but is preferablylocated in a point-of-presence (POP) facility. The NSP 36 may furtheract as a gateway to, for example, any number of additional services.

The ISD 22 may be interconnected to various devices such as a videophone130, other digital phones 18, set-top devices, computers, and/or otherdevices comprising the customer premise equipment 10. The customerpremise equipment may individually or collectively serve as a localnetwork computer at the customer site. Application applets may bedownloaded from the NSP 36 into some or all of the individual deviceswithin the customer premise equipment 10. Where applets are provided bythe NSP 36, the programming of the applets may be updated such that theapplets are continually configured to the latest software version by theinterexchange carrier. In this way, the CPE 10 may be kept up to date bysimply re-loading updated applets. In addition, certain applets may beresident on any of the CPE 10. These resident applets may beperiodically reinitialized by simply sending a request from, forexample, a digital phone 18 and/or a videophone 130 to the FMP 32 andthereafter to the NSP 36 for reinitialization and downloading of newapplets. To ensure widespread availability of the new features madepossible by the present architecture, the customer premise equipment maybe provided to end users either at a subsidized cost or given away forfree, with the cost of the equipment being amortized over the servicessold to the user through the equipment.

Referring to FIG. 2, the ISD 22 may connect with a variety of devicesincluding analog and digital voice telephones 15, 18; digitalvideophones 130, devices for monitoring home security, meter readingdevices (not shown), utilities devices/energy management facilities (notshown), facsimile devices 16, personal computers 14, cable televisionterminals (not shown), media player/recorders (not shown) and/or otherdigital or analog devices. Some or all of these devices may be connectedwith the ISD 22 via any suitable mechanism such as a single and/ormultiple twisted-pair wires and/or a wireless connection. For example, anumber of digital devices may be multi-dropped on a single twisted-pairconnection. Similarly, analog phones and other analog devices may bemulti-dropped using conventional techniques.

The ISD 22 may be located within the home/business or mounted exteriorto the home/business. The ISD 22 may operate from electrical powersupplied by the local or central office 34 and/or from the customer'spower supplied by the customer's power company. Where the ISD 22includes a modem, it may be desirable to power the ISD 22 withsupplemental power from the home in order to provide sufficient power toenable the optimal operation of the modem.

As shown in FIG. 2, in some embodiments the ISD 22 may include acontroller 100 which may have any of a variety of elements such as acentral processing unit 102, a DRAM 103, an SRAM 104, a ROM 105 and/oran Internet protocol (IP) bridge router 106 connecting the controller100 to a system bus 111. The system bus 111 may be connected with avariety of network interface devices 110. The network interface devices110 may be variously configured to include an integrated servicesdigital network (ISDN) interface 113, an Ethernet interface 119 (e.g.,for 28.8 kbps data, 56 kbps data, or ISDN), an IEEE 1394 “fire wire”interface 112 (e.g., for a digital videodisc device (DVD)), a TVRC modeminterface 114 (e.g., for a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem), aresidential interface 114, (e.g., standard POTS phone systems such astip ring), a business interface 116 (e.g., a T1 line and/or PABXinterface), a radio frequency (RF) audio/video interface 120 (e.g., acable television connection), and a cordless phone interface 123 (e.g.,a 900 MHZ transceiver). Connected to one of the network interfacesand/or the system bus 111 may be any number of devices such as an audiointerface 122 (e.g., for digital audio, digital telephones, digitalaudio tape (DAT) recorders/players, music for restaurants, MIDIinterface, DVD, etc.), a digital phone 121, a videophone/user interface130, a television set-top device 131 and/or other devices. Where thenetwork interface is utilized, it may be desirable to use, for example,the IEEE 1394 interface 112 and/or the Ethernet interface 119.

A lifeline 126 may be provided for continuous telephone service in theevent of a power failure at the CPE 10. The lifeline 126 may be utilizedto connect the ISD 22 to the local telecommunications company's centraloffice 34 and, in particular, to the FMP 32 located in the centraloffice 34.

The ISD may be variously configured to provide any number of suitableservices. For example, the ISD 22 may offer high fidelity radio channelsby allowing the user to select a particular channel and obtaining adigitized radio channel from a remote location and outputting thedigital audio, for example, on audio interface 122, video phone 130,and/or digital phones 121. A digital telephone may be connected to theaudio interface 122 such that a user may select any one of a number ofdigital audio service channels by simply having the user push a digitalaudio service channel button on the telephone and have the speaker phoneoutput particular channels. The telephone may be preprogrammed toprovide the digital audio channels at a particular time, such as a wakeup call for bedroom mounted telephone, or elsewhere in the house. Theuser may select any number of services on the video phone and/or otheruser interface such as a cable set-top device. These services mayinclude any number of suitable services such as weather, headlines inthe news, stock quotes, neighborhood community services information,ticket information, restaurant information, service directories (e.g.,yellow pages), call conferencing, billing systems, mailing systems,coupons, advertisements, maps, classes, Internet, pay-per-view (PPV),and/or other services using any suitable user interface such as theaudio interface 122, the video phone/user interface 130, digital phones,121 and/or another suitable device such as a set top device 131.

In further embodiments, the ISD 22 may be configured as an IP proxyserver such that each of the devices connected to the server utilizestransmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) protocol. Thisconfiguration allows any device associated with the ISD to access theInternet via an IP connection through the FMP 32. Where the ISD 22 isconfigured as an IP proxy server, it may accommodate additional devicesthat do not support the TCP/IP protocol. In this embodiment, the ISD 22may have a proprietary or conventional interface connecting the ISD 22to any associated device such as to the set top box 131, the personalcomputer 14, the videophone 130, the digital telephone 18, and/or someother end user device.

In still further embodiments, the ISD 22 may be compatible withmulticast broadcast services where multicast information is broadcast bya central location and/or other server on one of the networks connectedto the FMP 32, e.g., an ATM-switched network. The ISD 22 may downloadthe multicast information via the FMP 32 to any of the devices connectedto the ISD 22. The ISD 22 and/or CPE 10 devices may selectively filterthe information in accordance with a specific customer user'spreferences. For example, one user may select all country musicbroadcasts on a particular day while another user may select financialinformation. The ISD 22 and/or any of the CPE 10 devices may also beprogrammed to store information representing users' preferences and/orthe received uni-cast or multicast information in memory or otherstorage media for later replay. Thus, for example, video clips or moviesmay be multicast to all customers in the community with certain usersbeing preconfigured to select the desired video clip/movie in real timefor immediate viewing and/or into storage for later viewing.

Referring to FIG. 3A, a videophone 130 may include a touch screendisplay 141 and soft keys 142 around the perimeter of the display 141.The display may be responsive to touch, pressure, and/or light input.Some or all of the soft keys 142 may be programmable and may vary infunction depending upon, for example, the applet being run by thevideophone 130. The function of each soft key may be displayed next tothe key on the display 141. The functions of the soft keys 142 may alsobe manually changed by the user by pressing scroll buttons 143. Thevideophone 140 may also include a handset 144 (which may be connectedvia a cord or wireless connection to the rest of the videophone and/ordirectly to the ISD), a keypad 150, a video camera 145, a credit cardreader 146, a smart card slot 147, a microphone 149, a motion and/orlight detector 148, built-in speaker(s) 155, a printer/scanner/facsimile152, and/or external speakers 154 (e.g., stereo speakers). A keyboard153 and/or a postage scale 151 may also be connected to the videophone130. Any or all of the above-mentioned items may be integrated with thevideophone unit itself or may be physically separate from the videophoneunit. A block diagram of the video phone unit is shown in FIG. 3B.Referring to FIG. 3B, in addition to the items above, the video phone130 may also include a signal processor 171, high speed interfacecircuitry 172, memory 173, power supply 174, all interconnected via acontroller 170. Other input/output devices connected to the controller170 may include a video camera 145, a key board employing soft keys 153,a speakerphone 149, 153, a handset/key pad 144, 150, a credit card/smartcard reader/writer 146, 147, a printer/fax/scanner 152 and a postalmeter 151.

When the videophone 130 is used as a videophone, the display 141 mayinclude one or more video window(s) 160 for viewing a person to, whom auser is speaking and/or showing the picture seen by the person on theother end of the video phone. The display may also include adialed-telephone-number window 161 for displaying the phone numberdialed, a virtual keypad 162, virtual buttons 163 for performing varioustelephone functions, service directory icons 165, a mail icon 164,and/or various other service icons 166 which may be used, for example,for obtaining coupons or connecting with an operator. Any or all ofthese items may be displayed as virtual buttons and/or graphic icons andmay be arranged in any combination. Additionally, any number of otherdisplay features may be shown on the video phone in accordance with oneor more of the applications incorporated by reference below.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the FMP 32 may coordinate the flow of datapackets, separate voice signals from other signals, perform linemonitoring and switching functions, and/or convert between analog anddigital signals. The FMP 32 may process data sent from the CPE 10 to thecentral or local office 34 by separating and reconstructing analog voicesignals, data, and control frames. The FMP 32 may process data sent fromthe central or local office 34 to the CPE 10 by separating controlmessages from user information, and configure this information intosegments that for transport across the digital subscriber loop. The FMP32 may also terminate the link layer associated with the digitalsubscriber loop.

In some embodiments, the FMP 32 may include an access module 70 and adigital loop carrier 87. The access module 70 may include a lineprotector 71, a cross-connector 73, a plurality of TVRC modems 80, aplurality of digital filters 82, a controller multiplexer 84, and/or arouter and facilities interface 86. The digital loop carrier 87 mayinclude a plurality of line cards 96, a time domain multiplexing (TDM)multiplexer (MUX) 88, a TDM bus 90, a controller 92, and/or a facilitiesinterface 94.

During normal operations, digital signals on the customer connection 30(e.g., twisted-pair lines) containing both voice and data may bereceived by the TVRC modems 80 via the line protector 71 and thecross-connector 73. Preferably, the line protector 71 includes lightningblocks for grounding power surges due to lightning or other strayvoltage surges. The TVRC modems 80 may send the digital voice and/ordata signals to the controller multiplexer 84 and the digital filters82. The digital filters 82 may separate the voice signals from thedigital data signals, and the controller multiplexer 84 may thenmultiplex the voice signals and/or data signals received from thedigital filters 82. The controller multiplexer 84 may then sendmultiplexed voice signals to the TDM MUX 88 and the data signals to therouter and facilities interface 86 for transmission to one or moreexternal networks. The TDM MUX 88 may multiplex the voice signals fromthe controller multiplexer 84 and/or send the voice signals to the TDMbus 90, which may then send the digital voice signals to the controller92 and then to the facilities interface 94 for transmission to one ormore external networks. Both the router and facilities interface 86 andthe facilities interface 94 may convert between electrical signals andoptical signals when a fiber optic link is utilized.

When there is a failure of the digital data link (e.g., if there is afailure of the TVRC modems 80 at the FMP 32 or the TVRC modem 114 at theISD 22), only analog voice signals might be sent over the subscriberlines 30. In such a case, the analog voice signals may be directlyrouted to the line cards 96, bypassing the TVRC modems 80, the digitalfilters 82, the controller multiplexer 84, and the TDM MUX 88. Thus,voice communication is ensured despite a failure of the digital datalink. The line cards 96 may convert the analog voice signals intodigital format (e.g., TDM format) and send the digitized voice data ontothe TDM bus 90 and eventually through the controller 92 and thefacilities interface 94 for transmission to one or more externalnetworks.

Referring to FIG. 4B, the NSP 36 may be variously configured to provideany number of services provided by a server such as informationservices, Internet services, pay-per-view movie services, data-baseservices, commercial services, and/or other suitable services. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 4B, the NSP 36 includes a router 185 having abackbone 180 (e.g., a fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) backbone)that interconnects a management server 182, an information/databaseserver 183, and/or one or more application server clusters 184. The NSP36 may be connected via the router 185 by a link 181 to one or moreexternal networks, NSPs 36, and/or an FMPs 32. The information/data baseserver 183 may perform storage and/or database functions. Theapplication server cluster 184 may maintain and control the downloadingof applets to the ISD 22. The NSP 36 may also include a voice/callprocessor 186 configured to handle call and data routing functions,set-up functions, distributed operating system functions, voicerecognition functions for spoken commands input from any of the ISDconnected devices as well as other functions.

For high end residential consumers who want more convenience andsimplicity in their daily lives and access to the information highway,the videophone is an information and telephony access service thatprovides a voice and touch screen customer interface to an localexchange carrier (LEC) enabling easy delivery of a wide range oftelephony services with cost savings due to automated operator services,customer care, and marketing. New, enhanced services includeopportunities such as interactive electronic catalog shopping from thehome, advertising, and the ability to offer instant (always on), highspeed Internet access to every household, penetrating those markets thatcurrently lack in home personal computers. Additional services include,high fidelity voice and touch screen customer interface for users to aaccess the network server. This is accomplished via asymmetric highspeed data transport. With the higher data transfer rates, 3^(rd) partybill payment, banking, smart card ATM transactions, electronic deliveryof consumer product coupons, interactive video teleconferencing,state-of-the-art networking for work-at-home environments, private lineservices electronic shopping from the home, electronic coupons,advertising, and to high speed Internet access.

Implementation of this new architecture allows for differentiation oflocal service, will provide new revenue streams from value-addedservices, and have the potential to significantly reduce operationalcosts. The architecture is constructed such that additional performancebenefits from the existing loop plant are extracted and maximizes use ofthe existing infrastructure and current systems.

The new architecture implements active services where the user triggersa stimulus by touch, voice or a combination of touch and voice commandsto obtain a network based response to expand traditional services aswell as provide entirely new services. These responses and theassociated services include call connection, information delivery,trigger network response, and performance transactions.

Call connection services provide for calls to be initiated by touchingicons corresponding to the called party. It also enables self schedulingof conference calls without the need for an operator as well asinitiation of interactive calls with white board augmentation. Classservices can likewise be invoked via icons and prompts in a naturalmanner without requiring memorization of numerical codes.

Information delivery services provide for a simple user interface thatenables data base and search engine technology (formerly accessible onlyto networked computers) to be leveraged for telephony services. Forexample, access to regional, national or international electronicinteraction with yellow and white page directories, navigation andaccess for voice, e-mail, and fax messages, review of AT&T, bill forservices, review of AT&T calling plans, review of CLASS and otherservice offerings. Thus certain marketing, operator services, billing,and customer care functions can be accessed by the customer without theneed for an intermediate service representative—reducing operations costwhile increasing customer convenience. The video phone eliminates theneed for an intermediary to call up information on a screen and read itto the customer and streamlines customer access to information.

In response to a trigger, the network provides a screen interface thatenables the customer to obtain operator services without accessing ahuman operator, obtain credit for wrong numbers automatically, view ratetables, self provision an AT&T Calling Plan or other CLASS services,conduct conference calls, or define a user profile for pointcast on a“ticker tape” that scrolls desired information on the videophone screen.Other trigger services could include a wake up service thatautomatically calls the user at a preselected time.

Performance transactions allows users via the videophone and itsassociated card swiper to enable users to perform transactions withsecurity protection. These transactions include paying regular billswith paperless transactions, perform electronic banking includingobtaining smart card cash in the home without the need to visit a bankor an ATM machine, conduct E-commerce, purchase products advertised ontelevision via a synchronized ordering screen. The electronic billpayment scheme not only benefits the user but allows the serviceprovider to obtain additional revenue by allowing those companies to outsource bill payments to AT&T.

Passive services can also be offered so that active customer responsesare not required. These include advertising, providing electroniccoupons, personalized news delivery services, and access to communitynews such as school closings. Providing an advertising feed directly tothe customer premises equipment provides a new and potentially verylarge business opportunity to the local access network provider.Advertising can be displayed on the video phone, whenever the videophoneis not in active use. User profiles maintained on the network wouldenable the advertisements to target customer interests, geographiclocation, demographics, or some other criteria.

Providing electronic coupons is another passive service opportunity. Theelectronic coupon can be displayed on the touch screen at appropriatetimes throughout the day (e.g., orange juice in the early morning) as“screen savers.” By swiping their smart card customers canelectronically collect such coupons and use them at the store withoutthe inconvenience of cutting them out of newspapers, etc. At the sametime AT&T participates in the coupon industry and has access to anotherrevenue stream.

Delivery of personalized news leverages diverse content assists in thecreation of user profiles. In addition, emergency broadcasts relating toflash flood warnings, tornado, and hurricanes, can be broadcast to usersin the affected areas without affecting the user's other transactionsthat are occurring simultaneously. These emergency signals could also besent with alarms for waking up and alerting users to potential naturaldisasters.

The offering of interactive services include the combination of agraphics capable touch screen videophone, simultaneous voice and datacapability, and a high speed data line to furnish a superior userinterface than a traditional voice telephone and so enables a richcollection of new interactive services. These include multimediaenhanced voice calls, virtual PBX services, point and clickconferencing, intelligent call management, access to the Internet, and auniversal multimedia mailbox.

The multimedia enhances voice calls allows users to supplement voicecalls with whiteboard graphics or text. The multimedia format canprovide improved customer care, enhanced catalog ordering, andinteractive voice and data response applications. In addition,information-on-demand and support for work-at-home access is alsoprovided.

The virtual PBX services include screen pops for message/call alerting,and graphical call management using touch interface with callsetup/bridging capabilities. Point-and-click conferencing provides agraphical user interface to initiate POTS calls. The intelligent callmanagement system provides easy instructions to direct call managementmaintaining a personal registry, mobility manager, call scheduling and“call me back” services, and a personal assistant.

Access to the Internet without a personal computer or modem via InternetService Provider (e.g., WorldNet) can be provided allowing users withoutaccess to a personal computer to have access to e-mail, the World WideWeb, a universal multimedia mailbox with voice, text, audio, and imagesintegrated with a common interface capabilities.

The flexibility of the new architecture allows for implementation ofservices in phases to minimize impact on the local infrastructure and toallow the service provider to handle and support problems withimplementation of services. As installation procedures become routine,additional services can be phased in based on customer demand. Earlyphases can be target marketed to specific demographics or to regionalimplementation.

For example, the initial implementation can be tailored to customers whoalready have two or more twisted pair connects with the local office.The videophone can contain Win32 application programmable interfaces(APIs) supporting TCP/IP, POP3, RAS, and TAPI protocols with a built inbrowser. One of the twisted pair will access the AT&T server via a modem(28.8 or possibly 56 kbps). The second twisted pair is used for switchedtelephony and managed via a graphical user interface. An AT&T server ata WorldNet services center could provide access to white and yellow pagedirectory information, calling plan descriptions, and rate tables. Otherinterfaces could provide access to the WorldNet Internet services suchas the World Wide Web, e-mail, advertising, and E-commerce platforms

A requirement of the touch screen services is availability of a datalink to the server. In later phases of implementation, a DSL link to thehome is provided with an access protocol that supports simultaneousvoice and data services. In the initial phase, the simultaneous voiceand data capability is approximated by having the data lineautomatically call the WorldNet POP when a built-in motion detector istriggered by someone nearby. During these periods of local presence, theAT&T server will put up advertising and personal information on thescreen and be available to support touch activated services (e.g.,calling, CLASS services), and directory information delivery. All of theline signaling for voice calls to the LEC switch (e.g., DTMF, flashhooks, etc.) for class services and dialing can be generated by thevideo phone processing engine in response to touch screen commands withsupport from the second twisted pair for client/server connection asneeded.

Later phases of implementation can include the introduction of advancedxDSL access to the customer equipment premises expanding the range ofvideophone services These xDSL services will support 7 kHz high fidelityvoice and a touch screen customer interface to the network server. Thiswill provide easier delivery of a wider range of telephony services withcost savings due to automated operator services, customer care, billing,provisioning, and marketing. The enhanced services such as 3^(rd) partybill payment, banking, smart card ATM transactions, electronic shoppingfrom the home, electronic coupons, and advertising can be implementedwith the xDSL connection. In addition, high speed Internet access ispossible as well as extending Internet capabilities to users who lackpersonal computers. Voice calls can be made with a packet-to circuittranslator (PCT) for interfacing voice telephony with the local officeusing the TR-303 signaling simulating modified digital subscriber loopaccess to the local office.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of the NSP 36 consisting of devicesand services used in the implementation of the new architecture.Connected to the SONET trunks 40 and 42 is a gateway 210. The gateway210 might also function as the router 185 that was previously discussed.Located around a FDDI ring 202 are the management server 182, theinformation database server 183, and one or more application serverclusters 184, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

The connection manager 214 initiates and terminates the placement oftelephone calls, while managing the services and messaging. In a typicalscenario, the connection manager 214 automates the calling process. Thisautomation involves the executing of computer commands to search recordsin the database server 218 to ensure that the customer is a subscriberto the desired service or that the called number is a subscriber to thedesired service. In addition, the connection manager 214 uses theoperations, administration, maintenance, and provisioning 216 to trackbilling information. After the connection manager 214 obtains therequired authorization, it launches the application 212 from theapplication server 220.

The OAM&P server 182 contains OAM&P management information 216consisting of data relating to configuration, capacity, fault, order,traffic activity, design, security, surveillance and testing of thenetwork. The information/database sever 183 contains specific customerinformation such as user profiles, authorization levels of service,provisioning and electronic commerce. The application server clusters184 manage and track information regarding computer boot operations andinitializations, call management, fault recognition and recovery (FR&R),application binding, maintenance and design, application invoicing,craft interface enhancement, application downloads, translations (Xltn),recent change and verify (RC/V), authorizations and registrations,configurations and performance statistics (Pertf Stat).

FIG. 7 illustrates the software layer architecture for the applicationserver 184 and the operation, administration and maintenance (OAM)server 182. In both the application server 184 and the OAM server 182,the software layer architecture is the same. In data link layer, theoperating system kernel 250 contains a C application programmableinterface 252 for interfacing with communication, input/output andinterprocess communication protocol IPC. The data link, network, andtransport layer contain middleware including the C applications 252, C++wrappers 254 and the adaptive services layer 256. The C++ wrappersoptimize the C library functions and the middleware puts intelligenceinto form object oriented programs in the transport layer to helpapplications route upwards and downwards in the protocol hierarchy. Thesession and transport layers contain service applications 260 andframework applications 258, respectively. The application layer containsthe service/applications 262.

FIG. 8 illustrates protocol hierarchy for the application serverplatform software architecture. The physical layer includes theoperating system kernels 270 for fault tolerance, process/threadsubsystems, communication subsystems, and virtual memory subsystems. Thedata link layer contains the following C application programmableinterface sets 272: thread, stream, socket, name pipe, socket poll,dynamic link, memory map, and IPC. The network layer contains theoperating system adaption layer 274, the thread manager, synch wrapper,spipe SAP, socket SAP, FIFO SAP, MEM MAP, and IPC wrapper. The transportlayer contains the adaptive service executive 276 and the dispatch 278.The session layer contains the service acceptor 280, connector 282 andservice handler 284. The presentation layer contains application programinterface 286 and the application layer contains the traffic pipemanagement 288, the universal signal processing call processing system290, new service applications 292, dynamic user profile management 294,user interfaces 296, and the OAM&P services 298. These protocols use afault tolerant Unix language to make the transition between interfacestransparent.

FIG. 9 illustrates the protocol hierarchy for the OAM&P server platformsoftware architecture. The physical layer includes the operating systemkernels 300 for fault tolerance, process/thread subsystems,communication subsystems, and virtual memory subsystems. The data linklayer contains the following C or other application programmableinterface sets 302: thread, stream, socket, name pipe, socket poll,dynamic link, memory map, and IPC. The network layer contains theoperating system adaption layer 304, the thread manager, synch wrapper,spipe SAP, socket SAP, FIFO SAP, MEM MAP, and IPC wrapper. The transportlayer contains the adaptive service executive 306 and the dispatch 308.The session layer contains the service acceptor 310, connector 312 andservice handler 314. The presentation layer contains application programinterface 316. The application layer contains the database managementsystem (DBMS) 318, the OAM&P system services 320, the interactive userprovisioning 322, craft interface 324 and the HP OAM 326.

The OSS interface applications 328 are supported by the distributedservices access protocol 329. The distributed services access protocol329 is supported by the session layer distributed object services 330,the transport layer process services 332 and the network layer messagemanipulation and transport 334. These protocols also use a faulttolerant Unix language to make the transition between interfacestransparent.

In addition to the devices disclosed in FIG. 1, FIG. 10 illustratesoverall service concepts. Key aspects of the technologies employed inthis architecture is the use of self-adaptive DSLs 30. The self-adaptiveDSL supports sophisticated digital signal processing including highfidelity packet voice transmission and robust automatic route selection(ARS). ARS directs outgoing, business group line calls to the customer'smost preferred available route allowing the customer to preselect asequence of up to four private routes for each code point in the PSTN 46for which a charge applies.

Included in FIG. 10 is the automated services agent 338 and an IPcircuit converter 340. The automated services agent 338 supports theinterexchange carrier's OSS, messaging systems, electronic commerce, andadvertising systems. The IP circuit converter 340 converts IP packetsinto traffic suitable for transmission via circuit-switched networkelements.

The services offered to consumers with this architecture include highspeed Internet access, 7 kHz telephone voice quality service, graphicaluser interfaces for ease in accessing automated services, provisioningand billing. Capabilities for 7 kHz bandwidth voice calls allows for 64kbps transmission rates with a bit error rate less than 10⁻⁶ and a delayof less than 150 millisecond. For telecommuters, in addition to theconsumer services, the architecture supports high speed corporate localarea network (LAN) Intranet access. For business customers, thearchitecture supports secure electronic commerce and personalizeddelivery of advertising to consumers with the capacity to tailor theadvertising campaign to the consumer's profile.

The architecture supports the following connectivity services: highspeed Internet access, CD quality voice transmission, asymmetrical andsymmetrical high speed data transmission rates, two-way 384 kbps videotransmission, video conferencing, wireless voice mobility within thehome and possibly within the neighborhood, conversion of cellulartraffic to traditional land line service within range of the ISD,wireless data mobility within close proximity to the ISD. Thearchitecture support the following information call management services:custom local area signaling services (CLASS), call alerting andredirection, electronic commerce via access to the Internet and the useof smart cards or credit cards, multiple voice connections, telephonymanagement, secure personalized Intranet (voice and data), access tocommunity online information services, personalized and multiplepersonalized Intranet, access to interactive multimedia, and movies ondemand.

Online management is also possible implementing user activated serviceprovisioning, electronic initiated service inquiries, electronic billingand bill payment schemes, voice activated command execution, “follow-me”service profiles, and virtual home location profiles. User interfacecapability includes unique digital signatures, touch screen and dialingpad access to services, integrated personal computer access, smart cardreading and recharging capabilities, voice dialing, compatibility withcellular phones (for example, IS54, IS95, GSM or other cellular phones),compatibility with personal digital assistants, network computers andpersonal computers via RF modems.

FIG. 11 illustrates the protocol hierarchy between the ISD and the FMP.For voice calling services, the TVRC protocol 400 provides the physicallayer. The data link layer 402 attaches a 6 bit header to the datapacket and the network layer 404 is supported by Q.931, pulse codemodulation (PCM), or G.722. The standard Q.931 supports out-of-bandsignaling. For data transmission, the TVRC protocol provides thehost-to-network layer 401. The Internet layer 403 is supported by IEEE802.3 standard. The Internet layer 405 also supports the InternetProtocol (IP). The Internet layer 403 and 405 define an official packetformat and deliver IP packet to their intended destination. Thetransport layer 407 is supported by the transmission control protocol(TCP), user datagram protocol (UDP) and resource reservation protocol(RSVP).

FIG. 12 illustrates the protocol hierarchy between the FMP and thenetwork. The SONET protocol 408 is used in the physical layer for bothshort term (option 1) and (long term option 2). In the short term, thedata link layer is supported by TR 303 [410]. Eventually, the ATM 412protocol will replace TR 303 [410] in the data link layer. In the shortterm, the network layer is supported by Q.931[414] for the transmissionof signaling information and G.711 (PCM) or G.722[416] will support thetransmission of voice signals. In the long term, Q.2931[418] willsupport signaling information and G.711 (PCM) or G.722 [420] willsupport the transmission of voice signals. In the long term, SAAL 422and ATM adaption layer 1 (AAL1) 424 supports the signaling and voicetraffic, respectively. The AAL is fully independent of the physicallayer, and converts higher-layer information, such as data packets, intoATM cells for transmission across the ATM network. At the receiving end,the AAL converts the cells back into the higher-layer information.

FIG. 13 illustrates one possible data protocol hierarchy between the FMPand the network. At the host-to-network layer, TVRC, SONET protocols 426or ATM protocols 428 will be used for the transmission of data from theFMP 32 to the network. In the Internet layer, out-of-band signaling isperformed by SAAL 430 and traffic is supported by AAL5 [432]. Also inthe Internet layer, point-to-point 434 and point-to-point tunnelingprotocol 436 is used to transport traffic as well as IP 438. In thetransport layer, traffic is supported by TCP 440.

FIG. 14 illustrates the protocol hierarchy for voice services (option 1)employing end-to-end ATM from the ISD 22 to the PSTN 46. The ISD 22 isconnected to the FMP 32 by a self adaptive DSL 30 in the physical layer.The ISD 22, the FMP 32, ATM switch 449 and the local service office(LSO) 451 have their data link layer supported by ATM 444. The ISD 22and the LSO 451 have their network layer by AAL1 [446] and theirtransport layer supported by PCM 448. At the FMP 32, the data link layeris supported by ATM 444. Links from the ATM switch 449 to the FMP 32,the NSP 36 and the LSO 451, have the signaling aspects of theseconnections supported in the physical layer by Q.2931.

FIG. 15 illustrates the protocol hierarchy for voice services (option 2)employing the TR-303 interface. The data link layer 454 in both the FMP32 and the LSO 449 is supported by TR 303 across the local accessnetwork.

FIG. 16 illustrates the protocol hierarchy for data services employingpoint-to-point over ATM from the ISD 22 to the Internet backbone 50. TheISD 22 is connected to the FMP 32 by a self adaptive DSL 30 in thehost-to-network layer. The Internet layer at the ISD 22 is supported byIEEE 802.3[466] and the transport layer is supported by IP 468. At theFMP 32, IEEE 802.3[466] between the physical layer and the Internetlayer for connections between the FMP 32 and the ISD 22. For connectionsbetween the FMP 32 and the ATM switch 449, Q.2931 signaling is used.Between the FMP 32 and the ISP access node 460, a permanent virtualcircuit (PVC) 470 can be established to save bandwidth associated withcircuit establishment and tear down in those situations where certainvirtual circuits must exist all the time. When these conditions do notexist, a switched virtual circuit (SVC) 472 can be established todynamically establish a circuit on demand.

FIG. 17 illustrates the protocol hierarchy for data services using ATMsignaling. FIG. 17 is similar to FIG. 16 in that both PVCs 470 and SVCs472 can be established based on system requirements.

FIG. 18 illustrates the virtual private data network “Extranet” betweenthe FMP 32 and an access node 490 using point-to-point tunnelingprotocol. Point-to-point tunneling protocol wraps point-to-point packetsin an IP format and uses a layer three protocol. The flexibility ofpoint-to-point tunneling protocol allows the implementation to be clientinitiated or client transparent, but does require IP support. From theaccess node 490, users can connect to corporate private data networks492 to create a secure connection between the customer servicesequipment and a private network.

FIG. 19 illustrates the protocol hierarchy for establishing apoint-to-point tunneling protocol from the customer services equipmentto the private data network. The ISD 22 maintains a self adaptive DSLconnection between the customer premises equipment and the FMP 32.Between the FMP 32 and the access node 490, data is sent along the ATMbackbone via at least one ATM switch 449 in a switched virtual circuit(SVC) 472.

While exemplary systems and methods embodying the present invention areshown by way of example, it will be understood, of course, that theinvention is not limited to these embodiments. Modifications may be madeby those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoingteachings. For example, each of the elements of the aforementionedembodiments may be utilized alone or in combination with elements of theother embodiments.

1. A communications architecture comprising: at least one customerpremises equipment interface device coupled to a modem, the interfacedevice being connected to one end of a customer connection; a facilitiesmanagement platform capable of separating voice signals from data packetsignals and connected to another end of said customer connection, thefacilities management platform for interfacing with a plurality ofdifferent networks including a packet data network via a digital opticalring network; a router within the facilities management platform fortransmitting data packet signals received from customer premisesequipment to a packet data communications network simultaneously withtransmitting voice signals received from customer premises equipment; afacilities interface within the facilities management platform capableof transmitting the voice signals to one or more external networks andreceiving voice signals from the one or more external networks; and anetwork server platform coupled to said facilities management platformvia said digital optical ring network for providing system management tothe facilities management platform.
 2. The communications architectureof claim 1 wherein said customer premises equipment interface devicesupports local wireless voice mobility.
 3. The communicationsarchitecture of claim 1 wherein said customer connection comprises asingle twisted pair connection.
 4. The communications architecture ofclaim 1, the customer premises equipment interface being electronicallyconnected to the facilities management platform by digital subscriberline modems including said modem of said customer premises interfacedevice.
 5. The communications architecture of claim 1 wherein saiddigital optical ring network comprises a synchronous optical network. 6.The communications architecture of claim 1 wherein the voice signals arepacket voice signals.
 7. The communications architecture of claim 1further comprising at least one digital telephone connected to thecustomer premises interface device.
 8. The communications architectureof claim 1 further comprising at least one video telephone connected tothe customer premises interface device.
 9. The communicationsarchitecture of claim 1 further comprising at least one personalcomputer telephone connected to the customer premises interface device.10. The communications architecture of claim 1, wherein the router isconfigured to transmit the data packet signals and the voice signalsover a high speed backbone network.
 11. In a communication architecturecomprising at least one customer premises equipment interface devicecoupled to a modem, the interface device being connected to one end of acustomer connection, a facilities management platform capable ofseparating voice signals from data packet signals and connected toanother end of said customer connection, the facilities managementplatform for interfacing with a plurality of different networksincluding a packet data network via a digital optical ring network, arouter within the facilities management platform for transmitting datapacket signals received from customer premises equipment to a packetdata communications network simultaneously with transmitting voicesignals received from customer premises equipment, and a network serverplatform coupled to said facilities management platform via said digitaloptical ring network for providing system management to the facilitiesmanagement platform, a method of providing simultaneous communicationsover said customer connection comprising the steps of: receiving arequest for one of a voice or packet data service over said customerconnection at one of said facilities management platform or saidcustomer premises interface device; permitting said one service oversaid customer connection; receiving a second request for one of a voiceor packet data service over said customer connection at one of saidfacilities management platform or said customer premises interfacedevice; and multiplexing signals associated with said first and secondservices over said customer connection resulting in both said servicesbeing received simultaneously by at least one user of said architecture,said signals being intelligently multiplexed such that an availablebandwidth of said connection is maximized.
 12. A method as recited inclaim 11 wherein said customer connection is a single twisted pairconnection.
 13. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said customerpremises equipment interface device supports local wireless voicemobility.
 14. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said servicescomprise a voice service and a packet data service permitting a user tospeak to another party and view an Internet web page on a personalcomputer display at the same time.
 15. A method as recited in claim 11further comprising the steps of receiving a third request for serviceover said customer connection and multiplexing signals associated withsaid first, second and third services over said customer connectionresulting in said service being received simultaneously by at least oneuser of said architecture.
 16. A method as recited in claim 11 whereinsaid first request for service comprises a request for an Internetpacket data service and said second request for service comprises arequest for a video service.
 17. A method as recited in claim 11,further comprising: directly routing analog voice signals to at leastone line card within the facilities management platform for transmissionover a network when a digital data link fails.
 18. A method as recitedin claim 11, further comprising: transmitting, via the router, the datapacket signals and the voice signals over a high speed backbone network.